A Little TLC
#51
Super Moderator
Yours looks sharp and sounds strong.
Saw you at the El Toro circuit when ScottW911, emrliquidlife, nlpamg and I were participating in OC Race-Craft’s dog and pony session.
Had a swell time though.
Too bad their scheduling overlapped such that we were unable to catch up.
More track days in your future?
Saw you at the El Toro circuit when ScottW911, emrliquidlife, nlpamg and I were participating in OC Race-Craft’s dog and pony session.
Had a swell time though.
Too bad their scheduling overlapped such that we were unable to catch up.
More track days in your future?
#54
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03 C32 AMG
I was sitting at a red light and a fire truck approached so I pulled over a bit. Fire truck passes through the intersection and the light instantly turns green. Car behind me sees the green light and guns for it to make a right turn before I even move, and blam. He claims he didn't even see me.
Have an appointment with the MB dealer on Monday. Time to upgrade parts
Have an appointment with the MB dealer on Monday. Time to upgrade parts
#55
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03 C32 AMG
Good as new, didn't even have to pay my deductible and I got a new bumper without holes drilled in it
Since the gold calipers update, I've added the SL55 intake boxes with Y-pipe, Eibach 22mm rear sway bar, and Bilstein Heavy Duty shocks valved to the H&R springs, #4 pad in the rear. My calipers also turned back to silver a few months after the track time
The car is eating a bit of coolant, we suspect it's the intercooler core under the supercharger. The oil change is coming up <1k miles so we'll be swapping out the faulty intercooler then. And since we're ripping out the intercooler, we're going to be doing some engine work while we're at it. Stay tuned!
Since the gold calipers update, I've added the SL55 intake boxes with Y-pipe, Eibach 22mm rear sway bar, and Bilstein Heavy Duty shocks valved to the H&R springs, #4 pad in the rear. My calipers also turned back to silver a few months after the track time
The car is eating a bit of coolant, we suspect it's the intercooler core under the supercharger. The oil change is coming up <1k miles so we'll be swapping out the faulty intercooler then. And since we're ripping out the intercooler, we're going to be doing some engine work while we're at it. Stay tuned!
#57
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03 C32 AMG
Well, tracked down my Quaife today. Fedex tracking said it was delivered on the 30th, but it was definitely not delivered here. Called up Fedex and tracked down where it was delivered, a church a couple blocks over. You could say my Quaife is blessed.
Just need to get that Saturn Vue out of the backyard and then the rip down shall commence!
Just need to get that Saturn Vue out of the backyard and then the rip down shall commence!
#58
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03 C32 AMG
Still sourcing parts for the engine work and quaife install. In the meantime, I took my car to Supecar Sunday at the end of last month, and decided to go drive Angeles Crest afterwards.
Got about 10 miles up the mountain and the engine turned off without any drama. An hour went by and then the car started back up like nothing happened - drove it home and then it stalled again in the driveway. A quick search led me to believe it was the CPS starting to give out. It was very fun to replace! I also caught the SL55 Y-pipe being cut by the firewall, and did a little work on that as well.
Pictures will be up tomorrrow, my photobucket is throwing an error currently
Got about 10 miles up the mountain and the engine turned off without any drama. An hour went by and then the car started back up like nothing happened - drove it home and then it stalled again in the driveway. A quick search led me to believe it was the CPS starting to give out. It was very fun to replace! I also caught the SL55 Y-pipe being cut by the firewall, and did a little work on that as well.
Pictures will be up tomorrrow, my photobucket is throwing an error currently
#59
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03 C32 AMG
Photobucket was still messed up so I attached the pics.
Took the CPS off, here is where it's located (driver side behind the head, hard to see and reach):
What the CPS connector looks like:
Old CPS next to new CPS:
Where the SL55 Y-Pipe rubs on my firewall:
Damage to the Y-Pipe:
Took a dremel to the metal and made it flush with the firewall, no more rubbing:
Like said in my previous post, the CPS is quite fun to replace. Besides dropping the E8 torx socket with extension a few times, the majority of the time was spent on locating and removing the CPS. Even with my "whopper hands," my right hand got a few battle scars. Once the CPS was out, the rest was a breeze.
Engine seems to be running smoother all around, I used to feel a little shake when idling in drive but it's gone now. And best of all, the engine didn't quit today on my journeys.
Took the CPS off, here is where it's located (driver side behind the head, hard to see and reach):
What the CPS connector looks like:
Old CPS next to new CPS:
Where the SL55 Y-Pipe rubs on my firewall:
Damage to the Y-Pipe:
Took a dremel to the metal and made it flush with the firewall, no more rubbing:
Like said in my previous post, the CPS is quite fun to replace. Besides dropping the E8 torx socket with extension a few times, the majority of the time was spent on locating and removing the CPS. Even with my "whopper hands," my right hand got a few battle scars. Once the CPS was out, the rest was a breeze.
Engine seems to be running smoother all around, I used to feel a little shake when idling in drive but it's gone now. And best of all, the engine didn't quit today on my journeys.
#60
Finally, we got the Eibach rear swaybar this past week after weeks of waiting for the order to be filled and shipped.
The C32 AMG rides entirely different now. No more sponge feel. Turns are crispier and you can feel all the nooks and crannies in the road.
If you want an AMG ride which feels similar to having the Performance Package suspension option on the new AMGs, this larger diameter rear swaybar is a great place to start!
The C32 AMG rides entirely different now. No more sponge feel. Turns are crispier and you can feel all the nooks and crannies in the road.
If you want an AMG ride which feels similar to having the Performance Package suspension option on the new AMGs, this larger diameter rear swaybar is a great place to start!
about your Eibach rear swaybar, is it thicker in diameter than stock AMG?
Is AMG hollow and Eibach being made of solid steel bar?
did you only swap rear and what about the front?
how was the result after installing this suspension part?
did you notice your car having more stability in performance driving?
keep up the good work.
#61
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03 C32 AMG
Thanks kowalski.
Stock rear swaybar on the C32 is 16mm and the Eibach rear swaybar is 22mm. Stock front swaybar is 22mm also. I do not know for sure, but I believe the Eibach is hollow and I would imagine the AMG swaybar is hollow as well.
I only swapped the rear swaybar on my car. It's my preference to have the rear swaybar bigger than or the same size as the front swaybar to allow a cushion of safety, oversteer > understeer. It did take out a chunk of the Mercedes understeer and add stability, but some understeer is still present. And every time there is an opportunity to upgrade the rear swaybar, I would go for it over and over again.
Stock rear swaybar on the C32 is 16mm and the Eibach rear swaybar is 22mm. Stock front swaybar is 22mm also. I do not know for sure, but I believe the Eibach is hollow and I would imagine the AMG swaybar is hollow as well.
I only swapped the rear swaybar on my car. It's my preference to have the rear swaybar bigger than or the same size as the front swaybar to allow a cushion of safety, oversteer > understeer. It did take out a chunk of the Mercedes understeer and add stability, but some understeer is still present. And every time there is an opportunity to upgrade the rear swaybar, I would go for it over and over again.
#62
Thanks kowalski.
Stock rear swaybar on the C32 is 16mm and the Eibach rear swaybar is 22mm. Stock front swaybar is 22mm also. I do not know for sure, but I believe the Eibach is hollow and I would imagine the AMG swaybar is hollow as well.
I only swapped the rear swaybar on my car. It's my preference to have the rear swaybar bigger than or the same size as the front swaybar to allow a cushion of safety, oversteer > understeer. It did take out a chunk of the Mercedes understeer and add stability, but some understeer is still present. And every time there is an opportunity to upgrade the rear swaybar, I would go for it over and over again.
Stock rear swaybar on the C32 is 16mm and the Eibach rear swaybar is 22mm. Stock front swaybar is 22mm also. I do not know for sure, but I believe the Eibach is hollow and I would imagine the AMG swaybar is hollow as well.
I only swapped the rear swaybar on my car. It's my preference to have the rear swaybar bigger than or the same size as the front swaybar to allow a cushion of safety, oversteer > understeer. It did take out a chunk of the Mercedes understeer and add stability, but some understeer is still present. And every time there is an opportunity to upgrade the rear swaybar, I would go for it over and over again.
thanks for your reply.
I wonder if C43 shares the same swaybars as c32 on both front and rear?
I have some bodyroll on my car even if it's a european version C43 lowered with stock european spring/shock setup which is lower than US version c43's
I'll might get those bars for my car.
I wonder what the word swaybar is in german?
Maybe it's called stabilizatoren or something?
#63
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thanks for the pictures and guide, it is very helpful. Is the part of the firewall you ground down steel? ie will rust?
Have you got the quaife installed yet?
Have you got the quaife installed yet?
#64
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03 C32 AMG
Yeah, the part I ground down on the firewall was steel. The sharp protruding bit in the picture has a slide on clip that a screw from the top of the windshield wiper tray secures down onto. I crafted another clip that would slide in under the tray and sat flush with the firewall.
Quaife still not installed, have to order some parts, so it's on standby with some Hankook Ventus RS3 tires. My time is being eaten up by a family members car, it had the whole front suspension changed out but is still clunking - what fun that is!
Quaife still not installed, have to order some parts, so it's on standby with some Hankook Ventus RS3 tires. My time is being eaten up by a family members car, it had the whole front suspension changed out but is still clunking - what fun that is!
Last edited by firstshadow; 09-06-2012 at 07:23 PM.